Along with the Union Pacific's
M-10000 (which preceded it by a mere six weeks), this pioneer streamliner, Zephyr 9900,
would blaze a trail for the many which followed it. It was the first
all-stainless-steel train to be built using Budd's patented and
proprietary "Shotwelding" techniques. It was also the first
diesel-powered streamliner; the M-10000 used a spark-ignition
distillate fuel engine. Another notable first: whereas the M-10000
tucked a buffet-kitchen in its rounded and streamlined tail, Zephyr 9900
used the space as a parlor-solarium, creating the first streamlined
observation car. (It must be noted, however, that open-platform rear
end observation cars had been commonplace during the heavyweight era.)

Following
tests on the Reading in Pennsylvania where the little trainset hit a
top speed of 104 mph, it was officially unveiled to the press and
public at Philadelphia's Broad Street Station on April 18, 1934. But
its real introduction to the world came little over a month later;
after transiting the Burlington's route with stops at major cities
between Chicago and Denver, it was poised to make the run in reverse
for a record. As a nationwide radio audience listened in, the Zephyr
whistled off from Denver at dawn (5:05 a.m) of May 26, headed for
Chicago at top speed. According to the Wikipedia entry for the train, Burlington called in additional manpower to make
sure that every single grade crossing between Denver and Chicago was
protected by a flagman. The train reached Chicago. 1015.4 miles away,
at 7:10 p.m. having averaged nearly 78 mph. From there the little
trainset went directly to the Chicago "Century of Progress" World's
Fair exhibition, where the waiting crowds went wild.

Following its own nationwide publicity tour, the new Zephyr
(named for the Greek god of the west wind) entered revenue service on
November 11, 1934 between Lincoln, Omaha and Kansas City. But
Burlington already had numerous additional streamliners on order from
the Budd company, and they could see that with the Zephyr
they had created more than a train—it would be a franchise. Aptly,
then, as the additional equipment came on line the original 9900
trainset was renamed the Pioneer Zephyr.

Unlike the M-10000, which lasted less than seven years in revenue service, the Pioneer Zephyr
would have a long and productive service life. The trainset would serve
the Burlington for more than twenty-five years, finally being retired
in early 1960. Even then it avoided the scrapyard fate which awaited
most railroad rolling stock; the trainset would be donated to and
placed on display by Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.
Following a careful restoration and refurbishment in the late 1990s, it
is now possible for anyone to see 1934's "train of the future".